a whole new experience, pt. 2

MAUDY THURSDAY(maundy, Latin for mandate; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maundy_Thursday)Service divided into four parts, not three as it’s usually broken down.* Call to worship* Worship — reading from the Gospel of John, the Last Supper; remembering one’s baptism (getting sprayed with holy water, three times, no less; Randy getting sprayed by Scott without warning) and communion (the two sacraments instructed by Jesus)* Reading of the Shadows (tenebrae, Latin for shadows; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenebrae)* Loud sound (gong played by Paul) in complete darkness that symbolizes the earthquake when Christ died during the eclipse; leaving the Sanctuary in darkness** Maudy Thursday serves as an introduction to the Holy Friday service, which concludes with the celebration on Easter Sunday.

HOLY FRIDAY — SEVEN LAST WORDS (3 HRS)* I arrived 30 minutes late (12:30pm), but I stayed till the end (3pm). I wouldn’t really know everything that took place. I kept passing out thanks to all the medicine that I’m taking.

EASTER SUNDAY* The church was crowded to the roof literally (full house, including the balcony and the chapel).* Scott – “Jesus is on the loose.”

In all I spent five hours in church this past week, much more than I’d have expected to stay in church.